Small business owners from the region headed to Westminster yesterday for a reception to mark Small Business Saturday.

The annual celebration of SMEs takes place tomorrow, and as part of the event members of the Small Business 100, a list of small companies promoted as part of the initiative, visited 10 Downing Street where they met small business minister Margot James.

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One of those present was Hayley Williams, owner and managing director of Keystone Marketing in St Neots.

“We are truly delighted to have been nationally recognised as a top 100 small business this year," she said. "The small business community is vitally important and hugely powerful and it's a pleasure to be part of it. We are a small, hardworking team who are driven to deliver an excellent marketing service to other small and growing businesses both locally and nationally. Our business has grown significantly since inception just over three years ago and this recognition really does demonstrate the impact we have made so far.”

Also part of the 100 are Cambridge gift shop Podarok and Bassingbourn dance school DanceMatters.

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Plenty of local firms will be running special Small Business Saturday events. Girton green energy specialists Green Heat are inviting residents to their visit them for advice on how they can make their homes and businesses more energy efficient.

"There are many energy saving options and solutions on the market and there is much misleading information on the performance and suitability of these products. Householders and SMEs need reliable, trustworthy advice, not an off-the-shelf ‘solution’ that fails to take into consideration their particular requirements."

Small Business Saturday campaign director Michelle Ovens added: "Small Business Saturday has become an exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK.

"We aim to showcase the level of diversity, innovation and talent that is active within our small business sector and persuading people to get out and support their friends, neighbours and family members and reinforce local communities and economies."